TOKYO (BLOOMBERG) - The support rate for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe slipped to its lowest level in two years with respondents displeased over his virus management and for pushing a Bill that critics say gives him greater power to pick senior prosecutors.

A survey taken over the weekend and released Monday (May 18) by the Asahi newspaper showed Abe's support rate fell 8 percentage points from nearly a month ago to 33 per cent, the lowest since 2018 when he was facing allegations of cronyism that rattled confidence in his government. A separate survey from TV news network ANN showed the Cabinet approval rating fell 7 percentage points to 32.8 per cent.